Hiroshima: 62 Years Later

On August 6, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. It was the beginning of the end of World War II.

It was a pivotal event. Truly, the world changed in an instant.

HIROSHIMA, Japan (Reuters) -- Japan marked the 62nd anniversary of Hiroshima's atomic bombing with a solemn ceremony on Monday as the city's mayor criticized the United States for refusing to give up its nuclear weapons program.

Tens of thousands of elderly survivors, children and dignitaries gathered at the Peace Memorial Park, near ground zero where the bomb was dropped, to remember the more than 250,000 people who ultimately died from the blast.

"Even to those who managed to survive, it was hell where they envied the dead," Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba told the crowd, describing scenes from the bombing such as charred faces and torn clothes.

In a speech followed by the release of 1,000 white doves into the sky, Akiba singled out the United States for failing to halt nuclear proliferation.

"The Japanese government, which has the duty to work for the abolition of nuclear weapons through international law, should protect its pacifist constitution which it should be proud of, and clearly say 'no' to antiquated and wrong U.S. policies."

Why single out only the U.S. for condemnation?

Why not criticize Russia, the U.K., France, or China for maintaining nuclear arsenals? He didn't jump on India or Pakistan.

Akiba didn't chose to lambaste North Korea or Iran for working on the development of nuclear weapons.

Why not target Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his threats to wipe Israel off the map? Why not chastise Iran for its defiance of the global community?

He picked the U.S.

Yes, America dropped the bomb on Hiroshima. But it seems that Akiba has forgotten what happened on December 7, 1941.

The crowd bowed their heads for a moment of silence as two children rang the Peace Bell at 8:15 a.m., the same time the Enola Gay B-29 bomber dropped the bomb on the western Japanese city on August 6, 1945.

...This year's anniversary followed outrage by local residents over remarks by Japan's former defense minister that had appeared to condone the bombings.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe apologized on Sunday to survivors in Hiroshima over the comments by Fumio Kyuma, who had said the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki "couldn't be helped" because they brought World War Two to an end.

Kyuma resigned over the remarks.

I can understand why survivors would be sensitive to remarks like those made by Kyuma.

I'm not going to debate whether or not President Truman (D) made the right decision by giving the order to drop the bomb.

He did it and he ended the most horrific war in human history.

Starting at 8:15 AM on August 6, 1945, the threat of nuclear annihilation became real. It exists and always will.

62 years and counting....